Squaring device



March 27, 1956 D. EASTMAN ET AL 2,739,385

SQUARING DEVICE Filed Jan. 12, 1955 IN V EN TORS .Don L Easfman and I W 77 Curio L.S/7aw J g j V .7 40M SQUARING DEVICE Don L. Eastman and Clifton L. Shaw, Water-town, N. Y. Application January 12, 1955, Serial No. 481,312

Claims. (Cl. 33-76) This invention relates to a novel squaring device de signed primarily for use in conjunction with the T-slots of a worktable of any metal-working machinery embodying worktables of that type.

In setting up work to be machined on a milling machine, for example, the work must be accurately aligned with the parallel T-slots in the worktable. It is usually necessary to square the location of the work vertically or horizontally, or both, as the case may be. Such aligning heretofore has been a difficult, time-consuming task since, insofar as is known, there is no way of doing this part of the job quickly and easily with a conventional master square.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel squaring device which can be used to quickly and easiiy square up a workpiece upon the worktable of a metal-working machine.

It is a further object to provide a squaring device which is adaptable to use in conjunction with the T-slot of a worktable for both vertical and/or horizontal alignment of a workpiece.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, showing the device of the present invention together with a fragmentary view of a worktable, and depicting the device as it is set up in the T-slot of a worktable in position to use for vertical alignment of a workpiece thereon;

Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure l, depicting the device as it is set up in the T-slot of a worktable in position to use for horizontal alignment of a workpiece thereon;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the present device, showing the beam arm thereof and a fragment only of the blade arm;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the device along the line H of Figure 1, the worktable fragment of Figure 1 being omitted;

Figure 5 is a sectional detail view along the line 5-5 of Figure 3, showing details of one specific manner of accurate joinder of the two arms of the squaring device; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6--6 of Figure 3, the T-slot of a worktable being shown in section therewith to depict the correct manner of use therewith.

The squaring device of the present invention is precisely made and designed to fit into and be used in conjunction with the standard T-slot in the worktable of any metalworking machine so as to make it possible to quickly and easily true up the location of the workpiece upon the table. It is also so designed that it can be used for both vertical and horizontal truing of the work.

Referring further to the various figures of the drawing, the present squaring device comprises one arm 8, hereinafter referred to as the base or beam arm, to which is attached and disposed at a true right angle a second arm nited States Patent 0 9 which will hereinafter be referred to as the blade or blade arm of the square. The base or beam arm 8 is a square steel bar of any suitable length of, for example,

square cross-section inch on a side to fit into the standard inch T-slot 10 found on the worktable 11 of most smaller and medium size machines. Other squaring devices can be made with a square beam 4 inch on a side to fit the T-s1ots on larger milling machines, planers, and the like. The beam arm is machined to accurately and closely fit into a T-slot of the desired width neck opening so that it is free to be slid along the T-slot but is not loose or subject to lateral play therein. The beam arm 8 is provided with a slot 12 in each end in each of which is mounted by means of rivets 13 a laterally projecting wing 14 which projects outwardly from each side of the beam arm 8 to hold the beam from dropping down into the T-slot of the worktable when the square is set up for vertical use, as shown in Figures 1 and 6. These laterally projecting wings are set in equidistantly from the outside face 15 of the beam arm so as to assure the accurate vertical positioning of the square as the beam is set into the T-slot with the wings 14 resting on the flat horizontal table of the machine at the sides of the T-slot.

The flat blade arm 9 of the square is mounted in the beam adjacent one end by means of a tongue 16 in one end of the blade 9 which fits accurately and tightly into groove 17 milled in the beam arm 8. The two arms of the square where fastened together are further secured against any displacement from a true degree angle with respect to each other by means of steel rivets or pins 18.

Figures 1 and 6 depict the maner in which the present squaring device is mounted in the T-slot upon the worktable of a machine when the device is being used for the vertical squaring or aligning of a workpiece thereon, whereas Figure 2 depicts the proper way of placing the device in the T-slot of the worktable when the device is being used for horizontal aligning of a workpiece on the table.

It is to be understood that other means of securing the blade arm to the beam arm in the aforedescribed relationship, provided the necessary precautions as to preservation of accuracy are maintained, can be employed, as well as other ways of providing laterally projecting wings or projections on the beam arm, can be employed, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as it has been herein described in connection with the specific embodiment shown in the drawing.

Having described the invention in detail, it is desired to claim:

1. A squaring device comprising a pair of arms disposed at right angles to each other and connected together to form a true right angle square, one of said arms being of square cross-section having a width and a depth to match and slidably fit into the T-slot of a worktable, said arm having a pair of lateral projecting portions projecting at each side and inset equidistantly from the outside face of said arm, the second arm of said square being thinner in cross-section than the first arm of said squaring device.

2. A squaring device comprising a pair of arms disposed at right angles to each other and connected together to form a true right angle square, one of said arms being of square cross-section having a width and depth to match and slidably fit into the T-slot of a worktable, said arm having a pair of lateral projecting portions projecting at each side and inset equidistantly from the outside face of said arm, the second arm of said square being thinner and wider in cross-section than the first arm of said squaring device.

3. A squaring device comprising a pair of arms disposed at right angles to each other and connected to- 3 a ge'ther'toforma true'right angle square, one of said arms being ofsquare cross-section havinga--widthand depth to match and slidably fit into the T-slot of a worktable, said arm havin" a laterally projecting wing adjacent each end projecting at each side and inset equidistantly from the outside face of saidarm, the "second arm of-said square being thinner in cross-section than the side face of said arm, the second arm of said square being thinner in cross-section than the first arm of-said-squaring device with one fiat side set flush with a side of the first arm.

5. A squaring device comprising a beam arm of square cross-section adapted to slidably fit into the standard T- slot of a machine worktable, laterally projecting wings extending from two opposite sides at each end of said beam arm and inset equidistantly. from one edge thereof to limit the extent to which said beam. arm can enter a T-slot, and a bladearmdisposed at aright angle to said beam arm and fastenedat one end thereto with one blade side flush with one side of said beam arm to form therewith a true right angle square;

No references cited. 

